The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-03-18

ing at US through binocular glassc.
others through telescopes.
l jumped upon the grating abaft tn,
wheel and waved my hat to them, and
pointed to our signals. A man stand
ing near their starboard quarter-boat
whom. by the way he looked aloft,
judged to be the captain. fourishcd hi.
hand in reply.
/ then. at the top of my voice ant
through my hands, shouted: ''We'rs
sinking! for Gods sake stand by us!'
On which the same person held up hi
hand again. though do not believe hi
understood or even heard what ]
said.
Meanwhile they had braced up the
fore-yards, and as the vessel came
round parallel with us. at distancs
of about two-thirds of q mile, they
backed the main-yards, and in . few
moments she lay steady, riding finely
upon the water and keeping her decks
dry, though the seas were splashing
over US freely,
Seeing now, as believed, that sh<
meant to stand by us. all my excite.
ment broke out afresh. l cried out
that we were saved, and fell upon my
knees and thanked God for his mercy.
Miss Robertson sopbed aloud. and the
steward came down out of the rigging
and danced about the deck. exciaiming
wildly and extending his arms toward
the ship. Cornish retained his grasp
of the wheel. but could not move his
eyes from the ship; the boatswain alone
remained perfectly tranquil. and even
angered me by his hard, unconcerned
face.
"Good God!" l cried, "do you not
value your life7 Have you nothing to
say? See. she is lying there, and will
wait till the sea mOderates, and then
fetch us on board"
perhaps she may" he answered.
''and it'll be time enough for me to go
mad when / am saved"
And then he folded his arms afresh,
and leaned against the rail. contem-
plating the ship with the same extra
ordinary indifference.
The movements of the people on the
Russian bark were quite discernible by
the naked eye; and we all now, saving
the boatswain, watched her with rapt
the steward stopping his
mad antics to grasp the poop-rail, and
gaze with devouring eyes.
We did not know what they would
do, and, indeed, we scarcely knew
what we had to expect; for it was plain
to us all that boat would stand but a
poor chance in that violent sea, and
that we should run greater risk of
losing our lives by quitting the ship
than by staying in her.
But would they not give us some
sign. some assurance, that they meant
to stand by us?
The agony of my doubts of their in
was exquisite.
''Are they goin' to lower that boat?"
the boatswain. suddenly
out of his apathetic manner.
There was a crowd of men around
the starboard davits where the quarter
boat hung. but it was not until I
brought the telescope to bear upon
them that could see they were hold
ing An animated discussion.
The man who had motioned to us,
and whom took to be master of the
ship, stood aft. in company with two
others and woman, and gesticulated
very vehemently, sometimes pointing
at us and sometimes at the sea.
His meaning was Ineligible enough
to me, but was not disheartencd: for
though it was plain that he was repre-
senting the waves rs too rough to per-
NIT them to lower boat, which was 2
sign, at least, that those
whom he addressed were urging him
TO save us; yet his refusal was no proof
hat he did not mean to keep by us un-
Ill it should be safe to send boat to
our ship.
"What will they do. Mr.. Royle." ex-
claimed Miss Robertson, speaking in q
roicc sharpened by the terrible excite
nent under which she laborcd.
'.Thcy will not leave US" ANSWERED.
''They are men and it is enough that
hey should have seen YOU among us
% make them stay. Oh"' l cried, ..it
s hard that those waves do not sub
tide! But patience! The wind is lull-
ng-wc have a long spell of daylight
before us. Would to God she were an
English ship! l should have no fear
hen" again pointed the glass at the
1essel.
The captain was still declaiming and
but the men had with
lrawn from the quartcr-boat. and were
us over the bulwarks.
Since the boat was not to be lowered,
Why did he continue arguing?
l watched him intently. watched
lin until my eyes grew blcared and
he metal rim of the telescope seemed
o burn into the flesh around my eye.
put the glass down, and turned to
,lance at the flags streaming over my
lead.
There she goes! I knew it. They
lever shows no pity" exclaimed the
in a deep voice.
looked and SAW the figures of tho
nen hauling on the lee main-braces.
The yards swung round; the vessels
lead paid off; they squared away for
ward, and in a few minutes her stern
vas at us, and she went away, solemn
y rolling and plunging; the main-top-
being sheyted home and
he yard hoisted as she surged forward
n her course.
We remained staring after her-no
ne speaking-no one believing in the
eality of what he beheld.
Of all the trials that had befallen us,
his was the worst.
When the steward saw that we were
bandoned he uttered loud scream
nd rushed headlong down into the
uddy.
took no notice o. him.
Cornish ran from the wheel. and,
bringing onto the rail- shook his fist
t the departing vessel, raving and
ursing her with horrible, blasphemous
'ords, black in the face with his made